Tube-testing machine



Dec. 18, 1928.v r Y M. REID lTUBE: TESTING MAcHxNE Patented Dec. 18',

UNITED 'STATES OFFICE.

MATTHEW REID, E VANCOUVER; Bm'rlsn` ooLUME1A, CANADA.

TUBE-TESTING MACHINE. y

Application ined August 12, 1926. serial No. 128,806.

To obtain greater 'results I makeuse of a` simple rectangular water tank which is .en-

tirely independent of the device itself-in a size convenient for holding a tiretube.

Into this tank my device is placed', mounted.

' for convenience on a board or plank. The

plank base carries two. uprights prepared to receive the tube which is slipped closely.

over them. w

A simple type of air cylinder and piston is secured to lthe base bet-Weenthe' uprights, the piston of whiclri's adapted to .l engage and propel one of the uprights along a slide, thus increasing the distance between the uprights and stretching the tubewherebysmall apertures or punctures are exaggerated and the wall of the tube surrounding same Weakened because madethinner by the stretch. Thus the effect of the punctures is brought under observation when the tube is immersed in Water and any holes readily located for repairs. y

Obviously other means foistretching the tube may Vbe employed other 'than the air cylinder, where compressed air is not avail! able, such as an hydraulic cylinderor a rack and pinion gear, these vmeans in no way effecting the generic principle yof my inventionhere disclosed. 1 y

This processA of stretchingA and testing' the tube can be performed almost instantly and any and all. leaks in the tube lare immediately disclosed.

The device is fully explained by reference to the drawings herewith, which form part ot this application wherefkv v1 l Fig. l is a longitudinal sect-ion of the air cylinder and parts adjacent. f

Fig. 2, an end elevation, and

complete arrangement.

Fig. 3, a general longitudinal view'of the' The wood baseis (l), the tube stretched for-'the water test (2), the uprights carrying the tube (3), the air cylinder 4) piston (5 `)piston rod terminating in'an attachment to the movable stretcher uprightY at"(7), the sliding member carrying the movable upright '(8), the guideway or slide `for the latter (9). v l Y i The cylinder is supplied with air under 'pressure` at the tube valve 10 and through the supply pipe ldupon which the piston (5) moves outwardlyy towards (12), propelling the movable upright towards the end of the slide (9) and thereby stretchingthe tube, the tank 13 is then iilled with Water, and

'air under pressure is ladmitted to the stretclnedl tube under test when the position.

of a puncture in the tube is disclosed byl airvescaping therefrom. and assumingV the form of bubbles inthe Water. y

lVhen the air is released by opening the stop valve (Il), the contractionr ofthe tube draws the piston again to the starting point ready for the next operation.-v Having now particularly described my invention, what -I claim is In a ydevicetor testing a submersed inner tube forv an'automobile tire` the combinal vtion comprising,a base member havingv two metal tubesforming right angularly pro- Jjecting supports for and adapted to receive said inn'er'tube, one ot said projecting supports being fixed and one slidable in a direction to or from .said fixedsupport,l a

- cylinder of relatively thin metal, ak piston engaging said cylinder, 'a rod secured tojsaid piston, saidrod being attached to said slidable .support by a T-piece pipe iitting,nieans for admitting and releasing compressed Yair respectivelj,T tol and from said cylinder, and

lmeans secured to the said base membery for suitably guiding Vsaidv slidable support.

I In testimony 4whereof I aiiixmy signa-v n ture. l .Y

MATTHEW REID. i 

